Vivek Anand, Ph.D.
Department of Leukemia, Division of Cancer Medicine
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Instructor, Department of Leukemia - Research, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Instructor, Department of Leukemia - Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2017 | All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, IN, Biochemistry, Ph.D |
| 2007 | Anna University, Chennai, IN, Biotechnology, M.Tech |
| 2005 | Patna University, Patna, IN, Biochemistry, M.S |
| 2002 | Patna University, Patna, IN, Biotechnology, B.S |
Postgraduate Training
| 2022-2025 | Research Investigator, Tumor Immunotherapy, Tumor microenvironment, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas |
| 2020-2022 | Postdoctoral Fellow, Leukemia and Breast Cancer Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX |
| 2019-2020 | Research Fellow, Breast Cancer Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY |
| 2017-2019 | Research Affiliate, Breast Cancer Research, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Research, Buffalo, NY |
| 2011-2014 | Senior Research Fellow, Autoimmune Disease and Bladder Cancer, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Delhi |
| 2009-2011 | Junior Research Fellow, Autoimmune disease and Bladder cancer, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Delhi |
Experience & Service
Other Professional Positions
Research Investigator, Cancer Research, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 2022 - 2025
Extramural Institutional Committee Activities
Ph.D. thesis examiner, Ph.D. Thesis Committee, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 2024
Ph.D. thesis examiner, Ph.D. Thesis Committee, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 2024 - 2024
Editorial Activities
Review Editor, Frontiers in Cancer Genetics, 2023 - Present
Review Editor, Frontiers in Cancer Cell Biology, 2023 - Present
Review Editor, Frontiers in cell and developmental biology, 2023 - Present
Guest Associate Editor, Frontiers in Nanotoxicology, 2023 - Present
Honors & Awards
| 2011 | Outstanding Presentation Award, European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology |
| 2011 | DBT Travel Award, Department of Biotechnology, India |
Professional Memberships
Selected Presentations & Talks
National Presentations
- 2023. GD3 Synthase is a Master Regulator of Wild-Type p53–Mediated Apoptosis and Mutant p53–Mediated Tumorigenesis. Conference. SABCS 2023. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2023. Novel humanized anti-GD2 antibody inhibits GD2-mediated immunosuppression by targeting GD2+ breast cancer stem-like cells. Conference. AACR 2023. Orlando, FL, US.
- 2022. Anti-B7-H3 Antibody (T-1A5) Blocks Immunomodulatory Function of B7-H3 and Enhances NK and T Cell–Mediated Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer Cells. Conference. SABCS 2022. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2021. Tumor microenvironment modulates ganglioside expression leading to immunosuppression in triple negative breast cancer. Conference. SABCS 2021. San Antonio, TX, US.
- 2021. Gangliosides promote immunosuppression in triple-negative breast cancer. Conference. UTMDACC Postdoc Symposium. Houston, TX, US.
International Presentations
- 2013. Involvement of γδ-T cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune skin disorder: Pemphigus Vulgaris. Conference. ICI 2013. Milan, IT.
- 2011. Augmented telomerase activity and cytokines in TH cells of parthenium dermatitis patients. Conference. EAACI 2011. Istanbul, TR.
Grant & Contract Support
| Date: | 2025 - 2029 |
| Title: | Targeting Ganglioside GD2 to Overcome Chemotherapy Resistance in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer |
| Funding Source: | Department of Defense |
| Role: | Instructor |
| ID: | BC240226P1 |
| Date: | 2025 - 2026 |
| Title: | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells |
| Funding Source: | Breast Cancer Research Foundation |
| Role: | Instructor |
| ID: | SPEC-25-029 |
| Date: | 2023 - 2024 |
| Title: | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells |
| Funding Source: | Breast Cancer Research Foundation |
| Role: | Research Investigator |
| ID: | BCRF-23-007 |
| Date: | 2022 - 2023 |
| Title: | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells |
| Funding Source: | Breast Cancer Research Foundation |
| Role: | Research Investigator |
| ID: | BCRF-22-007 |
| Date: | 2021 - 2022 |
| Title: | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells |
| Funding Source: | Breast Cancer Research Foundation |
| Role: | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| ID: | BCRF-21-007 |
| Date: | 2020 - 2021 |
| Title: | Targeting Breast Cancer Stem Cells |
| Funding Source: | Breast Cancer Research Foundation |
| Role: | Postdoctoral Fellow |
| ID: | 2020-Andreeff-1918 |
| Date: | 2020 - 2025 |
| Title: | Enhancing macrophage-mediated phagocytosis in AML through inhibition of SIRPα-CD47 interaction |
| Funding Source: | UT MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| Role: | Co-I |
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Anand V, Oderinde B, Siddiqui M, Tyagi A, Borgman J, Wu C, Andreeff M, Battula VL. Targeting GD2 with naxitamab overcomes GD3 synthase-driven immune suppression in triple-negative breast cancer. NPJ Breast Cancer, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41188249.
- Tyagi A, Siddiqui M, Kurth I, Takeda S, Sharma P, Eckstrom A, Borgman J, Borthakur G, Kornblau S, Maiti A, Anand V, Yuan B, Abbas H, Battula VL. RGX-019-MMAE Inhibits Leukemia Progression by Targeting MER proto-oncogene Tyrosine Kinase (MERTK) in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Leukemia. e-Pub 2025.
- Anand V, El-Dana Fouad, Baran N, Borgman J, Yin Z, Zhao H, Wong TS, Andreeff M, Battula VL. GD3 synthase drives resistance to p53-induced apoptosis in breast cancer by modulating mitochondrial function. Oncogene, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 40382494.
- Tyagi A, Jaggupilli A, Ly S, Yuan B, El-Dana Fouad, Hegde V, Anand V, Kumar B, Puppala M, Yin Z, Wong S, Mollard A, Vankayalapati H, Foulks J, Warner S, Daver N, Borthakur G, Battula VL. TP-0184 inhibits FLT3/ACVR1 to overcome FLT3 inhibitor resistance and hinder AML growth synergistically with venetoclax. Leukemia, 2023. e-Pub 2023. PMID: 38007585.
- Jaggupilli A, Ly S, Nguyen K, Anand V, Yuan B, El-Dana F, Yan Y, Arvanitis Z, Piyarathna DWB, Putluri N, Piwnica-Worms H, Manning HC, Andreeff M, Battula VL. Metabolic stress induces GD2+ cancer stem cell-like phenotype in triple-negative breast cancer. Br J Cancer, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34811508.
- Ly S, Anand V, El-Dana Fouad, Nguyen K, Cai Y, Cai S, Piwnica-Worms H, Tripathy D, Sahin AA, Andreeff M, Battula VL. Anti-GD2 antibody dinutuximab inhibits triple-negative breast tumor growth by targeting GD2+ breast cancer stem-like cells. J Immunother Cancer, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 33722905.
- Khandelwal M, Anand V, Appunni S, Seth A, Singh P, Mathur S, Sharma A. RASSF1A–Hippo pathway link in patients with urothelial carcinoma of bladder: plausible therapeutic target. Mol Cell Biochem, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31754973.
- Anand V, Khandelwal M, Appunni S, Gupta N, Seth A, Singh P, Mathur S, Sharma A. CD44 splice variant (CD44v3) promotes progression of urothelial carcinoma of bladder through Akt/ERK/STAT3 pathways: novel therapeutic approach. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 31529191.
- Khandelwal M, Anand V, Appunni S, Seth A, Singh P, Mathur S, Sharma A. Decitabine augments cytotoxicity of cisplatin and doxorubicin to bladder cancer cells by activating hippo pathway through RASSF1A. Mol Cell Biol, 2018. e-Pub 2018. PMID: 29368096.
- Das D, Anand V, Khandpur S, Sharma VK, Sharma A. T helper type 1 polarizing γδ T cells and Scavenger receptors contribute to the pathogenesis of Pemphigus vulgaris. Immunology, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28815581.
- Appunni S, Anand V, Khandelwal M, Seth A, Mathur S, Sharma A. Altered expression of small leucine-rich proteoglycans (Decorin, Biglycan and Lumican): Plausible diagnostic marker in urothelial carcinoma of bladder. Tumour Biol, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28459201.
- Asothai R, Anand V, Das D, Antil PS, Khandpur S, Sharma VK, Sharma A. Distinctive Treg associated CCR4-CCL22 expression profile with altered frequency of Th17/Treg cell in the immunopathogenesis of Pemphigus Vulgaris. Immunobiology, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26093920.
- Chugh S, Anand V, Swaroop L, Sharma M, Seth A, Sharma A. Involvement of Th17 cells in patients of urothelial carcinoma of bladder. Hum Immunol, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23827655.
- Akhtar N, Anand V, Verma KK, Sharma A. Augmented telomerase activity and reduced telomere length in parthenium-induced contact dermatitis. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22946492.
- Anand V, Khandpur S, Sharma VK, Sharma A. Utility of desmoglein ELISA in the clinical correlation and disease monitoring of pemphigus vulgaris. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 2011. e-Pub 2011. PMID: 21981406.
- Akhtar N, Satyam A, Anand V, Verma KK, Khatri R, Sharma A. Dysregulation of T(H) type cytokines in the patients of Parthenium induced contact dermatitis. Clin Chim Acta, 2010. e-Pub 2010. PMID: 20816788.
Review Articles
- Appunni S, Anand V, Khandelwal M, Gupta N, Rubens M, Sharma A. RASSF1A and its epigenetic dysregulation in genitourinary cancer: a current update. Clinical and Translational Oncology, 2025. e-Pub 2025. PMID: 41144101.
- Shao C, Anand V, Andreeff M, Battula VL. Ganglioside GD2: a novel therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer. Ann N Y Acad Sci, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34596246.
- Appunni S, Rubens M, Ramamoorthy V, Anand V, Khandelwal M, Sharma A. Biglycan: an emerging small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) marker and its clinicopathological significance. Mol Cell Biochem, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 34181183.
- Appunni S, Rubens M, Ramamoorthy V, Anand V, Khandelwal M, Saxena A, McGranaghan P, Odia Y, Kotecha R, Sharma A. Lumican, pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic: A conundrum. Clin Chim Acta, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 33333043.
- Appunni S, Anand V, Khandelwal M, Gupta N, Rubens M, Sharma A. Small Leucine Rich Proteoglycans (decorin, biglycan and lumican) in cancer. Clin Chim Acta, 2019. e-Pub 2019. PMID: 30629950.
- Anand V, Sharma A. CD44: A Multifaceted Molecule in Cancer Progression. J Cancer Prev Curr Res, 2017. e-Pub 2017.
Abstracts
- Anand V, El-Dana F, Borgman J, Andreeff M, Battula VL. GD3 Synthase is a Master Regulator of Wild-Type p53–Mediated Apoptosis and Mutant p53–Mediated Tumorigenesis. SABCS 2023, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Oderinde B, Anand V, Siddiqui M, Tyagi A, Borgman J, Battula VL. GD3 synthase (ST8SIA1) is a key immunomodulator in GD2+ breast cancer cells. AACR 2024, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Anand V, Hegde V, Siddiqui M, Tyagi A, Oderinde B, Marcondes M, Overwijk W, Battula VL. Novel humanized anti-GD2 antibody inhibits GD2-mediated immunosuppression by targeting GD2+ breast cancer stem-like cells. AACR 2023, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Anand V, Tyagi A, Battula VL. Anti-B7-H3 Antibody (T-1A5) Blocks Immunomodulatory Function of B7-H3 and Enhances NK and T Cell–Mediated Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer Cells. SABCS 2022, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Tyagi A, Ly S, Yuan B, El-Dana F, Anand V, Jaggupilli A, Borthakur G, Foulks JM, Warner SL, Battula VL. Activin-like Kinase 2 (ALK2/ACVR1) Is a Resistance Factor and Therapeutic Vulnerability to FLT3 Inhibition in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. ASH 2022, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Anand V, El-Dana F, Ly S, Andreeff M, Battula VL. Tumor microenvironment modulates ganglioside expression leading to immunosuppression in triple negative breast cancer. SABCS 2021, 2022. e-Pub 2022.
- Anand V. Gangliosides promote immunosuppression in triple-negative breast cancer. MD Anderson Annual Postdoc Symposium, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- El-Dana F, Yuan B, Ly S, Anand V, Battula VL. Hotspot p53 mutations correlate with increased expression of stem cell markers in triple-negative breast cancer. SABCS 2020, 2021. e-Pub 2021.
- Anand V. Dinutuximab Inhibits Triple-Negative Breast Tumor Growth by Targeting GD2+ Breast Cancer Stem-like Cells. MD Anderson Annual Postdoc Symposium, 2020.
- Anand V. Targeting epichaperome-mediated protein networks to potentiate immune-response in cancer. MSKCC Postdoctoral Symposium, 2019.
- Katsuta E, Anand V, Yan Li, Dasgupta S, Takabe K. High CD73 expression, regulated by estrogen signaling, associates with cancer aggressiveness in estrogen receptor (+) breast cancer. AACR 2019, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Das D, Anand V, Antil PS, Khandpur S, Sharma VK, Sharma A. Involvement of γδ T cells and scavenger receptors in the immunopathogenesis of Pemphigus Vulgaris. Immunology 2015, 2015. e-Pub 2015.
- Anand V, Raju A, Das D, Khandpur S, Sharma A. Involvement of γδ-T cells in the pathogenesis of autoimmune skin disorder: Pemphigus Vulgaris. ICI 2013, 2013. e-Pub 2013.
- Anand V, Akhtar N, Rai M, Sharma A. Augmented telomerase activity and cytokines in TH cells of parthenium dermatitis patients. EAACI 2011, 2011. e-Pub 2011.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified December 03, 2025